Fountain type cleaning implement



Dec. 30, 1958 2,866,214

c. H. PHILLIPS FOUNTAIN TYPE CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 23, 1956 INVENTOR. C/zarks ff. P/zz'Z/zps 3- E JM United States Patent cc FOUNTAIN TYPE CLEANING IMPLEMENT Charles H. Phillips, Richmond, Va.

Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 624,100

4 Claims. (Cl. -136) This invention relates toa cleaning implement such asa brush or mop of the fountain or self-contained reservoir type in which the emplement embodies a container for cleaning or other fluid which is gravity-fed to the bristles or tufts at a controlled rate.

it is the principal object of my invention to provide a cleaning implement of the type aforesaid which is relatively simple to contruct and at the same time eflicient and highly-effective in use.

Another object is to provide a brush or mop of the fountain type which is readily adapted and converted either to be held directly by the hand of the user or by a long manipulating handle detachably secured to the brush.

A further object is to provide a cleaning or applying implement of the type aforesaid, in which the hand of the user acts directly to partially or wholly close the filling opening of the reservoir during use, so that spillage or leakage is prevented and substantially all fluid is directed onto the surfaces being cleaned or treated.

- Still another object is to provide a brush or mop wherein the reservoir is of relatively large capacity and so constructed and related with the base of the implement that spillage of fluid is negligible even when used on the end of a long handle.

Other objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilledtin the art after a study of the following detailed description. in connection with. the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the form of the invention presently preferred by me and showing a long manipulating handle attached;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the brush without the long handle and with a part of the reservoir member cut away to show a detail of construction, and

Figure 3 is a view to a reduced scale showing the manner in which the brush is used when directly gripped.

Referring in detail to the drawing wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout, 1 identifies generally the brush or mop which comprises a base or back 2 of wood, hard rubber, synthetic plastic or other suitable material, and having embedded therein tufts or bristles 3. In the model selected for illustration, the base is circular and has bristles over its entire under surface as well as about the periphery of its side walls so that the brush can be worked closely into corners and crevices to do a thorough job of cleaning.

The upper face of base 2 is formed with a circular recess to define a flat bottom 4 and an upstanding rim 5. A plurality of holes 6 extend through the base of the brush and, as shown in Figure 2, may be equally circumferentially spaced about rim 5.

The reservoir comprises an element 7 of flexible, resilient material such as soft rubber and, in the model shown, is formed or shaped as a surface of revolution about the central vertical axis of the brush, and is con- 2,866,214 Patented Dec. 30, 1958 stricted upwardly and inwardly to acircular opening 8 at the top and having its rim or edge generally lying in a plane parallel with the base of the brush.

A metal or plastic handle 9 has its ends secured in recesses formed at diametrically opposite locations on rim 5 and includes upwardly and inwardly curved riser portions 9a surmounted by short vertical portions 9b, which are interconnected by generally parallel grips or bars 90. As shown upon Figure 2, these grips are laterally spaced to pass symmetrically upon respectively opposite sides of the filling opening 8. from Figure 1 it is noted that the grips 9c are coplanar in a plane which is adjacent or a little below the plane of opening 8 so that, as illustrated in Figure 3, the palm of the hand of the user acts inherently to close the opening when the barsare grasped in a natural manner to manipulate the brush. This function is aided by the natural resiliency of the material of which the reservoir is made.

The reservoir of the model shown has an open, generally-cylindrical base portion which fits snugly within the inner wall of rim 5 and is secured in fluid-tight relation thereto by any suitable means such as waterproof. cement. It is noted that the holes 6 are radially spaced a little inwardly of the wall of rim 5 to allow for thicknessrof the material of reservoir 7.

The lower portionof a long handle is indicated at 11, Figure 1. This handle consists of tangs 11a fixed with the handle and extending outwardly and downwardly. to terminate in aligned, inwardly-bent distal ends 11bv adapted to fit within holes 9d formed centrally in the riserportions 9b of the brush handle. The tangs are interconnected by any suitable linkage mechanism 12 which may be similar to that shown in the expired patent toSargent, 1,628,615, dated May 10, 1927, wherein manipulation of the linkage positively moves the tangs toward and from one another for attachment to and detachment from the brush and, when attached, are positively held together to provide for pivotal movement of the brush about the aligned bent ends of the tangs.

In use, either with or without handle 11, the brush is dipped into a pail of water or other cleaning fluid to allow the reservoir to quickly fill through opening 8. The brush is then manipulated over the surface to be cleaned and the water drains through holes 6 as the brush is moved, to give a combined mechanical and washing action which quickly loosens and flushes away all dirt. Under practically all conditions of use the inwardly-constricted form of the reservoir 7 maintains fluid therein until it passes through holes 6. When the implement is being used without the long handle 11, this function is assisted by the hand of the operator which, in a natural manner in holding grips 9c, acts to close the opening 8 so that there is practically no spillage or waste and all fluid passes through holes 6 to assist in the cleaning operation. In actual use in cleaning automobiles it has been found that two or three fillings of the reservoir are all that are required even for the largest car. The water remaining in the pail is used with the long brush handle removed, forwashing the wheels. Three pails of water, one with cleaning fluid such as suds, and two of clear water are sufiicient for an excellent job superior to one done with only a wash rag and hose.

While I have disclosed the form of the invention now preferred by me, various changes in shape, size, relative dimensions, and the substitution of equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the foregoing specification. Hence it is my desire and intention that the disclosure be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and I wish to reserve all modifications within the scope of the subjoined claims.

In the claims, the term brush is to be interpreted as inclusive of mops and other cleaning or applying implements having bristles, thrums, or clusters of elongated flexible parts secured at their one ends only. Reference in the claims to upper and lower parts or surfaces refers to the position of the implement as shown upon Figure 1. The term bristles in the claims includes thrums, tufts, and clusters of soft threads and filaments.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A brush comprising a base having a flat lower surface and bristles secured to and over said surface, a hollow element of fluid-impermeable material having its cations and having a grip extending in laterally spaced ;adjacent substantially coplanar relation about said opening, there being holes in said base between said reservoir and bristles.

2. A brush comprising a base having a central vertical axis of symmetry and bristles secured to the lower surface of said base, a hollow reservoir element having the edges of its lower open end secured peripherally about said base to define therewith a reservoir for fluid, said element being in the form of a regular geometrical figure about said axis and constricted inwardly and upwardly to an unobstructed free filling opening at its top having its edge in a plane generally parallel with said base, there being passageways between said reservoir and bristles for conduction of fluid at a regulated rate, and a handle of rigid material secured at its ends to said base at respective diametrically opposite locations andv including a grip portion extending generally parallel with the plane of, and about, said opening.

3. In a brush, a circular base of solid material having generally flat upper and lower parallel surfaces, bristles secured to and covering said lower surface, said 'upper surface having a circular rim upstanding from and extending about the periphery of its upper surface, a hollow element of resilient flexible liquid-impermeable material having its lower edge permanently secured to the inner upstanding wall of said rim to define with said upper surface a fluid reservoir, said element being' 'formed as a regular surface of revolution about the central vertical axis of said base and constricted upwardly and inwardly to a single unobstructed filling opening at its top with its rim in a plane generally parallel with said surfaces, a handle of rigid material secured to said base rim and comprising two laterally spaced bars extending over and across said base-on respective sides of said filling opening, said bars lying in a plane parallel with and closely adjacent the plane of said filling opening, there being holes in said base to conduct fluid from said reservoir to said bristles.

4. A fountain type brush comprising a perforate base of regular geometrical contour and having an axis of symmetry normal thereto, said base having bristles secured to and over its lower face, a reservoir element of-fluid-imperviousmaterial havinga lower rim-secured -to and about the periphery of said base in'fluid-tight 2t)- relation therewith, said reservoir element being uniformly constricted inwardly and upwardly fromsaid base to terminate in an internal rim defining a filling opening of lesser area than said base and in coaxial relation therewith, saidelement and base conjo-intly forming a reservoir for fluid, and a handle of rigid material having an end secured to said base externally of said reservoir element and including a pair of grip portions extending substantially coplanar with and adjacent said internal rim on opposite sides thereof respectively, said grip portions being constructed and arranged relatively to said filling opening so that when gripped by the hand of a user, the palm thereof acts to cover and close said filling opening. 

